Multiple search booths at airports and transportation terminals

ABSTRACT

Multiple enclosed booths for the pre-boarding search of all carry-on items and passengers at airports and other transportation terminals. Each booth comprises; a passenger carry-on item check-in area, luggage inspecting area, enclosed passenger screening area, passenger walkway area and a luggage pickup area, a means to isolate passengers during the pre-boarding security search while simultaneously hand searching all carry-on items in privacy.

BACKGROUND

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to the pre-boarding screening procedures at transportation terminals specifically, isolating passengers during the screening process. Multiple booths provide a means to comply with the presidential and congressional mandate to have a plan in operation for increased security so our nation will not endure another terrorist attack like that of Sep. 11, 2001.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Airports commonly x-ray but do not hand search all carry-on item(s). This current method is inadequate to meet the demands of the new presidential and congressional mandate to physically hand search all carry-on item(s) which can be best accomplished by having multiple search booths. It becomes practical not only to hand search all carry-on item(s) without delays but also to isolate and identify criminals during the screening process with multiple booths.

[0005] Many patents address security but fail to deal with the fact that security searches take time. Delays have already caused airlines to go into bankruptcy. This present invention of multiple booths is the only system which allows for a large number of passengers to arrive a short time before a flight and still hand search all carry-on item(s).

[0006] A search of prior art shows many patents consisting of new high tech equipment for airport security but no patent or prior art uses or claims multiple booths to install the equipment in.

SUMMARY

[0007] Our nation, at the present time, is prepared to purchase new high tech airport security equipment. It is imperative that the new equipment be installed into an efficient, well planned security system such as multiple booths, to prevent wasting billions of dollars. The main objective of this invention is to be the framework for pre-boarding security.

[0008] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a means to physically hand search all carry-on item(s) in privacy, which can be best accomplished by having multiple search booths since personal search and item(s) search must be done at the same time disallowing the possibility of transferring a weapon from their item(s) to their person. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system for isolating passengers during the screening process. Experts in the fields of security and psychology have determined that a terrorist or a criminal is not likely to enter a detention area where he is isolated and can be easily apprehended.

[0009] In order to achieve the above objective, this invention comprises the steps of the passenger:

[0010] being photographed by cameras taking a profile and head shot to check against criminal data banks;

[0011] unloading contents of their carry-on item(s) onto a table followed by the item(s) container, shoes, jacket and all metal objects, having passengers unload their own item(s) helps the search process move quicker;

[0012] entering through the booth door which locks automatically behind them and walking through the metal, weapons and explosives detector while being viewed by guard and recorded by a camera;

[0013] simultaneously the passenger's carry-on item(s) is hand searched. If the security examiners are satisfied with all tests the exit door will unlock and the situation lights will indicate to the passenger to exit and retrieve their belongings from the pickup carousel. If the security examiners are not satisfied with all tests, the situation lights will indicate to the passenger to exit through another door to the maximum search cubical or the holding cell cubical.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES

[0014] Accordingly, besides the objectives and advantages of the multiple booths described in the above patent, several objectives and advantages of this invention are:

[0015] a. to provide a means to comply with congressional mandate to hand search all carry-on item(s) without causing delays to passengers;

[0016] b. to prevent criticisms, if our nation were to endure another aviation terrorist attack the installation of enclosed booths would silence criticism that our government agencies have not acted since the previous terrorist attack of Sep. 11, 2001;

[0017] c. to provide a psychological deterrent;

[0018] d. to entrap dangerous criminals preventing the shut down of airports and stress to unknowing passengers;

[0019] e. to provide mug shots and profile photos before boarding an aircraft which will vindicate passengers of foreign ethnic backgrounds who might be singled out by fellow passengers or the airport security personnel as being possible terrorists;

[0020] f. to provide passengers with reassurance while flying, knowing that the passenger next to them went through the same rigorous pre-boarding search;

[0021] g. to provide a holding cell cubicle and a maximum security cubicle which will isolate criminals from the sight of other passengers during a weapons discovery or a photo match from criminal data banks;

[0022] h. to have passengers unload their own item(s) and to use tubs with lids and trays which will speed up the searching process of carry-on item;

[0023] i. to stop complaints that “nothing has changed” since Sep. 11, 2001 except for more delays. Multiple booths would be a visible sign that the FAA and DOT have done all that is possible; and

[0024] j. to provide a well thought out security plan that will keep the billions of dollars allocated to airport security from being wasted. Many high tech devices can be added to the multiple booths. This patent will be the framework for future security.

[0025] Further objectives and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing descriptions and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

[0026]FIG. 1 shows aerial view of a single booth with preferred embodiments.

[0027]FIG. 2 shows aerial view of multiple booths with preferred embodiments.

[0028]FIG. 3 shows front view of multiple booths with preferred embodiments.

[0029]FIG. 4 shows front view of conveyor system and pickup carousel.

[0030]FIG. 5 shows aerial and side view of operator's console.

[0031]FIG. 6 shows aerial view of multiple booths with alternative embodiments. REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 1 hold line 23 bullet proof glass window 2 photo backdrop 24 operators' console 3 privacy partition 25 lift up counter top 4 mug shot camera 26 wheelchair search isle 5 profile camera 27 wheelchair screening isle 6 situation lights 28 enclosed passenger screening 7 unloading table area 8 conveyor system 29 carry-on pickup area 9 passenger entry door 30 metal slide 10 pass through window 31 passenger walkway area 11 two way intercom 32 repacking table 12 metal, weapon, 33 pickup carousel explosive detector 34 trays with lids and tubs 13 passenger exit door 35 x-ray monitor 14 carry-on item(s) inspecting area 36 x-ray scanner 15 maximum search cubicle door 37 carousel slide 16 maximum search cubicle 38 carry on check in area 17 police entry, exit door 39 doors and situation lights 18 surveilance camera console 19 holding cell door 40 conveyor system emergency 20 holding cell cubicle stop 21 holding cell camera 41 mug shot and profile camera 22 camera monitor console 42 two way intercom console 43 tamper proof on/off key lock

[0032] This present invention provides two similar designs; multiple booths with preferred embodiments and multiple booths with alternative embodiments.

DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] A preferred embodiment of the multiple search booths of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

[0034] Hold line 1 a red line on the floor, is outside of multiple booths. Profile camera 5, photo backdrop 2 and mug shot and profile camera controller 41 are fastened to the entry part of the privacy partition 3. Mug shot camera 4 is mounted on the front outside wall of the multiple booth facing photo backdrop 2. Privacy partition 3 which can be portable extends past the booth in an “L” shape to provide privacy for passenger entry door 9 preferably constructed of steel and unloading table 7 constructed of stainless steel. Unloading table 7 is perpendicular to entry door 9. Bulletproof glass window 23 separates screening room 28 from operators' console 24 with a small pass through window 10 embedded into the bulletproof glass window 23. Metal, weapons, explosives detector 12 divides screening room 28 in half. Situation lights 6 which are red and green, are mounted adjacent to hold line 1, and doors 9, 13 and 15. The rear area of the screening room 28 has two exit doors. Passenger exit door 13 constructed of steel, opens up to the pickup area 29 and pickup carousel 33. Maximum security search area door 15 constructed of steel, opens up to maximum security search cubical 16 which is monitored by surveillance camera 18 fastened to the back wall. Holding cell camera 21 is mounted facing the holding cell door 19 which opens up to holding cell cubical 20. Police entry/exit door 17 is enclosed in the back wall of the maximum security search cubical 16. The back portion of the privacy partition 3 encloses pickup carousel 33, camera monitor 22, conveyor belt 8, x-ray scanner 36, and X-ray monitor 35. Lift up counter top 25 is connected to the end of tables 7.

DESCRIPTION FIG. 6 ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0035] A preferred embodiment of the multiple search booths of the present invention with alternative embodiments is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0036] Privacy partition 3 has an entrance way opening into passenger walkway 31. Multiple inspecting booth area 14 runs perpendicular to passenger walkway 31. Each inspecting booth area 14 has an enclosed carry-on check-in area 38, situation lights 6 are fastened outside of each passenger entry door 9 opening into enclosed passenger carry-on check-in area 38. Conveyor system 8 runs behind multiple carry-on inspection areas 14 feeding into the x-ray scanner 36 then unloads into carousel slide 37 then onto pickup carousel 33. At the end of passenger walkway 31 is the metal, weapons, explosives detector 12 which opens up into pickup area 29, repacking tables 32 and pickup carousel 33 near exit door 13. Maximum security search area 16 is positioned at the end of enclosed passenger screening area 28 and after metal, weapons, explosives detector 12. Holding cell cubical 20 is located at the far end of maximum search cubical 16.

ADVANTAGES

[0037] From the description above, a number of advantages of multiple booths become evident. Multiple booths:

[0038] a. provide efficiency,

[0039] b. prevent delays,

[0040] c. create physiological deterrents,

[0041] d. provide a disciplined arrangement to house the latest high-tech equipment,

[0042] e. isolate criminals,

[0043] f. stop the criticism that “nothing has changed since Sep. 11, 2001 except for longer delays”,

[0044] g. provide passenger privacy during pre-boarding screening,

[0045] h. fits extremely well into an airport's existing corridor because of its rectangular portions.

OPERATIONS FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

[0046] The steps of operating multiple screening booths are:

[0047] Passenger waits at hold line 1, then is instructed to stand in front of backdrop 2 for a mug shot and profile picture which is instantly compared with data bank files compiled from worldwide criminals and terrorists' rap sheets or data banks. The passenger then walks behind privacy partition 3 and unloads all contents of their luggage onto unloading table 7. The employee assigned to luggage inspecting area 14 hand searches each item and places them into plastic tubs with lids and/or trays and moves them onto the conveyor system 8 which runs through x-ray machine 36 then onto carousel slide 37 and then onto pickup carousel 33. When all items have been thoroughly searched and x-rayed, employee asks passenger for metal objects to be placed in a container for hand search which also goes through the x-ray scanner. The passenger is instructed to remove their shoes, hat and jacket for hand search which also passes through the x-ray scanner. Once all items have been hand searched, the passenger is instructed to walk through door 9 and through metal, weapons, explosives detector 12. If no alarms are set off, situation light 6 instructs passenger to exit through door 13 and retrieve all personal belongings on pickup carousel 33.

[0048] If the metal, weapons, explosives detector alarms are sounded the passenger is instructed by means of two way intercom 11 to re-enter metal, weapons, explosives detector and pass any additional metal objects through small window 10. If the alarm is re-sounded situation light 6 directs passenger to exit through door 15 to be hand searched by employee.

[0049] If a weapon is found or criminal identification is made through data banks, then passenger is detained in holding cubical 20. If no metal items or weapons are found, then passenger is instructed to pass back through door 15 and to exit through retrieval area 29 to retrieve personal items at pickup carousel 33. The operating console 24 controls all doors, mug and profile photos, situation lights, the conveyor system and the two way intercom system. The mug shot and profile camera console 41 works independently of the operating console 24.

OPERATIONS FIG. 6

[0050] The steps of operating multiple screening booths with alternative embodiments are:

[0051] Passenger waits at hold line 1, then is instructed to stand in front of backdrop 2 for a mug shot and profile picture which is instantly compared with data bank files compiled from worldwide criminals and terrorists' rap sheets or data banks. The passenger then walks through door 9 into private carry-on check-in area 38 and unloads all contents of their luggage onto unloading table 7. The employee assigned to luggage inspecting area 14 hand searches each item and places them on the metal slide 30 and then onto the conveyor system 8 which runs through x-ray machine 36 then onto carousel slide 37 and then onto pickup carousel 33. When all items have been thoroughly searched and x-rayed, employee asks passenger for metal objects to be placed in a container for hand search which also goes through the x-ray scanner. The passenger is instructed to remove shoes, hat and jacket for hand search which also passes through the x-ray scanner. Once all items have been completely hand searched, passenger is instructed to walk through door 9 and through metal, weapons, explosives detector 12 located inside enclosed passenger screening area 28. If no alarms are set off, situation light 6 instructs passenger to exit through door 13 and retrieve all personal belongings on pickup carousel 33.

[0052] If metal, weapons, explosives detector alarms are sounded, passenger is instructed to re-enter metal, weapons, explosives detector 12 and empty pockets of any additional metal objects. If alarm is re-sounded situation light 6 directs passenger to exit through door 15 to be hand searched by employee. If a weapon is found or criminal identification is made through data banks, then passenger is detained in holding cubical 20. If no metal items or weapons are found, then passenger is instructed to pass back through door 15 and to exit through retrieval area 29 to retrieve personal items at pickup carousel 33. The operating console 24 controls all doors, mug and profile photos, situation lights, the conveyor system and the two way intercom system. The mug shot and profile camera console 41 works independently of the operating console 24.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

[0053] This present invention was designed to help our government keep travelers safe and to meet the needs of the airlines to move passengers quickly through security.

[0054] This patent provides:

[0055] a deterrent to terrorism

[0056] reassurance to passengers that the passenger seated next to them went through the same rigorous pre-boarding security search

[0057] a means for passengers to speed up the pre-boarding screening process by unloading and loading the contents of their own carry-on luggage before and after the hand search

[0058] a means to comply with the presidential and congressional mandate to have an efficient pre-boarding hand search system in place

[0059] multiple booths will change people's minds that “nothing has changed since Sep. 11, 2001.”

[0060] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. 

We claim:
 1. enclosed multiple booths aligned side by side for a pre boarding search of carry on items and passengers at airports and other transportation terminals comprising; a carry on item check in area, which is the first area when entering the booth comprising, an unloading table, electrically controlled entry doors with situation lights, and luggage inspecting area, which is behind the carry on item check in area comprising, a x-ray scanner with viewing monitor, conveyor system, operator's console, and enclosed passenger screening area, in the middle of said booth comprising, a metal, weapons and explosives detector, exit doors with situation lights, and passenger walkway area, opening into and out of said booth comprising; a hold line, situation lights, cameras, camera console, and luggage pickup area, located at the far end of said booth comprising a pickup carousel and repacking tables, whereby a means to privately hand search all carry-on luggage and to isolate passengers during the pre-boarding search. 